PGA Tour Launches AR App in Time for Arnold Palmer Invitational

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PGA Tour Launches AR App in Time for Arnold Palmer Invitational

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The PGA Tour has launched a new “PGA Tour AR” app that uses Apple’s ARKit to projects 3D golf courses and live 3D shot trails onto any flat surface.

According to a new report from TechCrunch, live AR coverage will be available this week on March 15 for the Arnold Palmer Invitational with the 6th hole getting the AR featured hole treatment.

By tapping the app on an iPhone, fans will be treated to a 3D image of the hole along with 3D shot trails from the player or players of their choice — all projected on whatever flat surface is in front of them.

In addition to capturing the live action, the app will archive every shot struck on the 6th hole throughout the four-day competition, allowing fans to compare shot trails of any players from any round.

“This particular innovation is unique in that it lets us serve the core fan even deeper with all kinds of 3D imagery and data and a better understanding how a particular hole plays,” said Rick Anderson, the Tour’s chief media officer. “But it also helps us attract a new audience of people who may not necessarily be golf fans but are drawn by the technology and discover our content. It’s about growing our audience. It’s not just technology for technology’s sake.”

Coinciding with this week’s launch, the par-3 7th hole at Pebble Beach will also be available on the app, replete with all the action that played out at this year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The PGA Tour has expanded this new augmented reality functionality into a standalone app at the onset, with the plan to transition it to the main app as it picks up steam.